Signal system



Sept. 19, 1944. R B. KENNETT sIGNAL sYsTEM Filed Aprill?, 1941 v INVENORR4L/PH B. KENNETT I. BY

- ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 19, 19744 UNITED sTA'l-E's,l PAT1-:1\VIIOFFICE I I I I 'sicllss'I-EIM .il I Y A v I Ralph' B. Kennett,E1izateth,i\r. J., sgignoft I Tung-Sol Lamp Works, Inc., Newark,corporation of Delaware Application Apn'im, 1941, serial No. 888,961v 10claims. (ci. iii-2811)" This invention relates to signalsystems-,andparticularly to a directional signal system Vfor motor vehicles.

More particularly, the invention relates to a directional signal systememploying a double 'pilot light indication wherein asingle po-le doublethrow switch and a single flasher are employed to operate both sides ofthe system. Y f

In directional signal systems for motor vehicles it is required or isdesirablethatv the system incorporate a pilot lamp that will indicateVsignal lamp failure in an unmistakable manner,

and it is alsodesirable that two pilot lamps be the vehicle. One objectof the invention isa novel and improved system embodying these features.

A further object )of the inventionfis'fa system of this characterwherein unmistakable pilot lamp indication is given at all timesgfthepilot lamps are burned at full illumination, and a' (minimum number ofparts and wires are requiredv,resulting in a system which lends itselfto easy and permanently satisfactory installation in ordinary automotiveproduction line assembly.

associated device'forming an element of the system,andv f y Figf3'is anassembled view of the latten:

Referring to the drawing, the invention Tis 'illustrated as embodied inadirectional signalsystem for motor vehicles comprising a pair of. lightsI on the right side of the vehicle, and at the front and rear thereof,and a pair of signal .lamps'or lights -2 on ythe left side of the'vehicle at the front and rear' thereof. A combinedmagnetic and hotwireasher unit is indicated at A, and a battery source of' 4electricityis indicated .at B. The flasher unit'A'embodies an electric coil 3,anarmature 4 on one side and an armature 5 on the other. Thearmature`4`controls a pair of contacts 6 and is operated under theinfluence of twoopposed forces, one force being a hot wire'I and the`other force being the'electromagnetic .pull of the coil 3. yThearmature 4 may also have a biasv tending to Aclose the contacts 6. Whenthe hot wire 'I 'is'cold it holds thecontacts 6 open. The armature 5controls a pair of'contacts 8 'and is biased K against'the pull of theelectromagnetic c0113 so as A further object is to provide a directionalsignal circuit incorporating aV single .pole, V double throw switch toobtainpilot lamp indication both of signal lamp operation and of Vsignallamp failure; a feature not previously obtained in directional signalcircuits incorporating single pole,

double throw switches.

novel lamp socket and recring forming a partofnthis, applicationwherein--k Eig. lis a signal circuit:embodyirgvthivhtion;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view ofapilo't lamp-and binding post I3.

normally to hold'the contacts 8 open unless and 25 iicient toovercomepthe bias of the armature 5. The fbattery'B is .connected onone; side with the ground and on the other side with a conductor I0leading to a binding -post I I of the flasher unit.

until the pullof theelectrbma'gnetic coil 3 is suf- This'binding post II'isielectrically connected with the armaturesll an'd5. The circuitthrough the armature` y1I leads, with the contacts 6 open, througnthe`hot pull wire 'I to' thefbindingpost I2 andfrom there through `aresistance element I4. Foo-inthe resistance element VI4'the circuitleads through a conductor I5 andthe coil 3 to a TheV binding post I3'isconnectedthrough' a conductor I 6 with aA single'pole double throwswitch I1. The latter may .be thrown by the "operatorlto connect theconductor I with eitherof'the pairsv of signal lamps I and 2.

` By throwingthe switch I'I to the right, connection sml'n'ad'eWiththOndllctOr IBWhiCh in lill-rn iS f connected with'th'e conductor I9, and this in turn f leads to'a conductor 20 connected with the signallainps I.- vBy throwing the switch I1 tothe left,

connection Vis made with the conductor 2I which in turn 'is connectedwith'the conductor :322 leading to theconductor 23-connected withtheleft hand 'pai'r' of s`igna1 lamps :2.A The other-sides of the`signal 'lamps YI @and 2 are Aefroundeizl, as indi- The circ "t fromtheibaaefy B ieadsthrougnthe I pile;V lights` 2d 'and :sas follows: Fromthe binding *past lthrough the 'bridge-.16; armature 5.

contacts 8 when closed, conductor 21, terminal or binding post 80 of theflasher unit, conductor 28 to the pilot lamp 24 and conductor 29 to thepilot lamp 25. Through the pilot lamp 24 the circuit leads through aone-way electrical passage element 30 and conductor 22 to the conductor23 leading through the lamps 2 in parallel. Similarly, the circuit fromthe pilot lamp 25 leads through the one-way passage element 30 andconductor I9 to the conductor 20 and the lamps I in parallel. l

The operation of the system is as follows:

When the operator desires to turn to the right the single pole switchI'I is thrown to the right to connect the conductors, I6. and, I8.'Current then flows from the battery B through the arma-` ture 4, theho-t pull wire 'I, resistance I4, the conductor I5, the coil 3, theconductor I6, the conductor I8, the conductor` I9 and theA conductorthrough the lamps I. The latter are at rst either not lighted at allv oronlydimly lightedfbe- 6,'and1thusflashing on. and 01T ofthe signals Iiis f continued until the switch I'I; is opened. The pilot lamp 24 isalso Vsimultaneouslyjil'ashecl on andg off through the` operation of thearmature 5 to open and closethe contacts` 8; 'lorexampla when thecontacts-6 are closed; the current flowing through thecoil 3; due to theshort-circuiting'of theresistance t4 isA sufficient to operate thearmature 5; and. thereby close theA contacts 8, provided both 'signallamps are burning, thereby causingfcurrent toow through'the armature 5,contacts 8, Y conductor 2 1, conductor 28, pilot lamp 24j andVconductorV 22` tothe .conductor 23Y and thence through` the signal lamps2i in parallel.' Thel current wing through this circuit is suflicient;to

light the small pilotA lamp. 2II-'but insuicientto-f ,f

lightthesignal lamps When the` short-circuit is opened at'the contactsg,however, the bias of the armatuIeS breaks. the'pilot'lamp circuit at thecontacts 8,' the bias ofthe armature oyeri coming theV pull of` theelectrical' coil.` lThe pilot lamp 24 is thus ashed onandpif with theilashing off thesignal lamps I,'indicating to Vthe op,- erator that the`right hand signalslare operating. The pilot Vlighti 25 isjnot; lighted,being in shunt,

with the Vcoil 3: when the. contacts, 6 andi8 are closed; If` it isdesired tog'operate the: leftfhand signal' lamps 2 the; operatorthrowsthe switch; ITI to the left,` whereuponl th'e circuit from'the.bat:- tery throughthe asher is completed through the conductors 22; and.23' to the signalfV lamps, 2t0.

iiashr these signal lampsjon and; oil'A asedescribed above with',`respect to the signa-1 lamps; Lf'The Yplot-'lampes is now flashed: onand @fr with the signal lamps 2, asdescribed above, with respect to thepilot lampi-,Maud the. signal; lamps. lv and the signal lamp 2 4'isfnowy shuntedby the coil-.3 so as not toA operate when thecontacts Iiyand 8 are closed. If one ofj the sigrial lamps fails, as for exampleoneiofr thelamps` I; (with switch I1 thrown toftherightl, the, Currentthrough coil 3 Vwith only one ylamp burning is insuicient mover:-

come the tension of spring biased armature` 5. and the contactsl. remainopen-r The pilot lamp 24 therefore :etsii/asno'. Qurrentfromthefleslierand br its failure to -liehtf-iniiicatesfthe failure; i-gne g'and' improved circuitV of this invention, but I have foundparticularly-'suitable a one-way element comprising-one or a series ofso-called recof the signal lamps I. Similarly with the switch I1 thrownto the left, the failure of either one or both of the lamps 2 isindicated by the failure of the pilot lamp 25 to light up, assuming thepilot lamp itself to be in order. When a signal lamp has burned out theflasher ashes at an accelerated rate due to the fact that a lowercurrent flows through the pull wire I and it requires less time for thewirel to cool.

The purpose of the valves or one-way electrical current passage elements30 is to avoid a feedback condition which would produce a slight butnevertheless objectionable illumination in both pilot lamps upon thefailure of a signal lamp in the Ycircuit, operating. For example,assuming Vthe switch I'I is thrown to the right to operate the righthandrsignal lamps I, if one of the signal lamps `I should fail or burnout not only would the pilot. or indicator lamp 24 be illuminated andilashed, but also the indicator lamp 25 through a feed-back; circuit asfollows:` The contacts at 8 'remain open dueto the insufciency of thecur'- rent flowing through the coil 3 to operate the armature V5 butthere is a circuit none-the-less through the signal lamps 24 and 25 fromthe batteryB, conductor I0, armature 4, contact 6, coil 3; conductor I6,switch I1, conductor I8, pilot lamp 25, conductor 28, pilot lamp 24 andconductor 22y out through the signal lamps 2 in parallel. Similarly,with the switch II thrown to the left; to operate the signal lamps 2, ifthe circuit should be4 broken through one of the latter thecurrent`owing in Ycoil 3 is insufficient to close the contacts at 8, andunder these conditions the feed-back circuit would be produced from thecondllQlOr I6, switch IY'I, conductor 2|, conductor 22, pilot llamp, 24,conductor 28, conductor 28', pilot lampi 25,conductor I9 and conductor20 through the signal. lamps I in parallel. The current owing throughthe feed-back circuit including the pilot lamps 24and 25l is suflicienttov light these lamps to some degree of illumination, but insuf- Herent,to light-up. the signallamps Iv or 2; The 4introduc-:tion of theVorie-.wa-ycurrent devices 3!!- -permitting `curren-tflow in only onedirectionY preventsV ,theseI feed-back circuit conditions which `areconfusingand misleading. The flashing of Vboth pilot lamps simultaneous,if it occurred,

'ductors 20 and 23'.- The arrows over the elements 30 indicate thedirection of permitted flow of current. l

Any suitable valve or one-way conducting` element 30 may be employedas apart of the novel -copper oxide` (as for= example, a copper washeroxidized on one side), etc., which areV known to pass? currentinV onedirection but to prevent the back-flow. of. current. In Figs. -2. andk 3I have shown suchan element formed as a unitwith the lampzsocket-for thepilot indicator lamp 24A or 25.

The socket comprises a cylindrical elementA hai/ine a reducediendiriwhich reposes accinpression spring 31. Aninsulating discl 38-withA acentral opening rests upon the upper end of this Y socket. This ring 45has a part 45'. doubled'back on itself, and from the latter. are formedintegral spring fingers or tongues 46surrounding the bulb k24 or 25. Therectifying .segment or one-way passage elementfor the electricitycomprises a copperdisc 41 having formed thereon a copper oxide nlm 48. Aflange 35 formed onthe socket 35 engages theeoxide nlm 4.8 of. thecQDperdisc 41, and the electrical connection between the lamp and the copperdisc is-formed through the connection of the outer metallic shell49 ofthe lamp plugwith the'socket 35, 35 and the oxide nlm 48. The undersideof the copper disc'41 isin engagement with a metallic washer llisuch forexample as of copper, and the` latter has a connection 5I, which inthe-.cas e of the `lampl24 connects with the conductor 2 2 andin the caseofthe lamp connects withthe-conductor 19. AThe-flange the copperdisc '41;and the. metallic disc 50 are rmly clampedtogether between theinsulating discs 42 andf43'. lAs above indicated,v the'rone- 1 wayelectrical passage or valve Aaction may be obtained through the use rof-any devices'uitable vfor the purpose as, forexample, any deviceutilizing copper with copper oxide or magnesium with cupric sulphide orany other disc -valve 0r rectifier couple utilizing a' combination ofany electronegative elementlwith any"electropos`i tive element known toprovide a' rectifier segment or couple of the desiredcharacteristics.'The lamp bulb 24, 25 is fastened within the socket by the conventionalbayonet joint (not shown forl con,- venience) Y. The assembly unitshownv in Fig. 3 'is -mounted inthe dashboard 5.5 from the back, thespring iingersf48 of the 4.unit being snapped into the opening formedinthe Adash55.v The bulb may' be" inserted afterwards. i In the particularembodiment shown, the oxide iilmside 48 of the rectier is connectedthrough the shell 49 of the bulb and thence through the filament andconductors 28 and 29 with the positive side of the battery source, butif the battery is reversed with the positive side grounded it isunderstood, of course, that the Valves 30 would need to be reversed.Similarly, with a magnesium and cupric sulphide rectifier couple thepositive side of the source should be connected with the sulphideelement. Y

The system thus shown provides for unmistakable indication of signallamp failure and pilot light indication of the exact character requiredby the industry. The pilot lamps are operated at full illumination andthe system and all of its elements may be easily and permanentlyinstalled in ordinary automotive production line assembly with theassured strength and rigidity of mount necessary to withstand thevibration encountered in automotive circuits. 1

I claim:

1. In a directional signal system for motor. vehicles the combination ofright and left signal lamps'fbr theifrontrand rear, a'pair of pilotlamps,

a "flasherunit-controlling two pairs of contacts, -a

source-of electricV current, circuits for connecting each ypair of`the'right and left signal lamps in iparalleLa v.single poledouble throwswitch for 'connectingone of said pairs of contacts .of .the flasherwith either ofv said parallelcircuits, a circuit leadingfrom the otherpair of contacts controlled by vthe nasher to the pilot lamps, onelofsaid pilot'lamps being connected on one side with thelcircut of the`right-hand signallamps and the other of'thepilot lamps being'connectedon one side:y with the left-hand signal lamps, and

means inthe circuit of veach of the pilot lamps leading to thesignallamp circuitpermitting flow of current only in one direction. '-5Y l 2. In a directional signal system for motor vevhiclesthe'coxnbination of right andcleft signal lamps for the front and rear,a pair of pilotlamps,

a flasher vunit controlling two pairs of contacts, a

sourceof'aelectric current,` circuits for connecting veach'pair oftheright and left signal lampsin rparallel, aY single pole double throwswitch for. connecting one 'of said pairs of contacts of the iiasherwith either of-'said parallel circuits,'a .circuit leading from theother pair of contacts controlled -byA the asher to the pilot lamps,fone-of said pilot lampsbeing connected on one side withzthe circuitofthe right-hand signal lamps and the other ofzthe pilot lampsbeingconnected on one ,side withthe left-hand signal lamps, and means -inthecircuit of each of 4thepilot` lamps leading lto the signal lampcircuit ypermitting flow'of currentv only in one direction, saidmeansgcomprising a rectifier segment of the group consistingY of acupric-.sulphide washer and magnesium washer and'a copper oxideand-copper Washer.

3.-' In a'directional signal'system for motor vehicles, a plurality 'ofsignal lamps, a source of current,la single pole,` doublethrow switch,cir-v -cuit connections between the fixed terminals of said switch andsaid signal lamps, an automatic control device between said source andthe mov'- able' elementE of said switch, a circuit bypassing :saidcontrol device and connectingI said source -with 'thefixed terminals ofsaid switch, `a pilot lampV insaid 'lastmentioned circuit,` meanscontrolled by said device for opening and closing said flast mentionedcircuit 'and means in. said 'last ymentioned circuit for preventing flowI of i `current from one xed terminal ofisaid switch to the other fixedterminal thereof.

4. In a signal system of the character set forth, a flasher unitcontrolling two pairs of contacts and having three terminals, a sourceof electric current connected to one of said terminals, a single poledouble throw switch the moyable element of which is connectedwithanother of said terminals, one of said pairs of contacts controlling theasher unit resistance between said last mentioned terminals, two groupsof signal lamps, two pilot lamps each connected in circuit between thethird terminal of said unit and a different one of saidVv groups ofsignal lamps, said other pair of contacts controlling connectionsYbetween the terminal connected to said source and the terminalconnected with said pilot lamps, and a connection between each group ofsignal lamps and a xed terminal of said switch. V

5. In a signal system of the character set forth,

. aasher unit controlling two pairs of contacts and having threeterminals, a source of electric cur` na-ls; oneofsaid pairs ofxcmitactscontrolling the flasher :unit resistance 'betweenxsaid' last. mentionedterminals', two groups of signal lamps, two pilot lamps 'each connected.in circuit between the third terminal ofsaid1 unit and a diierent one ofsaid groupsf of signal lamps, said other' painrfof contacts controllingconnections between the terminali connected to said source and-thevterminal connected with said pilotlamps, anda connection between eachgroup of signal lamps and a xedterminal of `said switch, including meansassociated'fwi'th each o'fv saidA pilot lampsfor. permitting'ow'ofcurrentonly in one direction whereby when said switchris closedtoconnect one of 'said groups of signal lamps with the asher` unit, cur--rentrwill' not. flow from said switch through. the pilot lampsinseries.to the other group of signal lamps'."`V y k6. In a directional signalsystem for motor vehicles, two groups of signal lamps, .a single4 pole,

other group of; said signal lamps toflash said last mentioned-pilotlamp. s Y L V'I'. In a directional signal 'system for motor vehicles,thezco'm'bination of right:v and left signal lampsv both for the frontand rear of the vehicle, 'a pair of pilot lamps,1a ilasher unitcontrolling -two pairs of contacts, asource'of electric current,

circuit connections for connecting each' pair of `the right andflefthand' signal lamps in parallel, meansfor connecting said flasherwith'either of said parallel' circuits, a circuit leadingVv from one-pair of`contacts controlled bytheilasher tothe pilot lamps; one of saidpilot lamps being connected: on on'eside with the circuit of the right-'hand signal lamps and theother of thepilot lamps beingrconn'ected onone side'with the lefthand signal-lampsand means in the circuit ofeachof thepilotal'amps leading to the. signa-l lamp'cir- `.whichiscoime'cted: with another of said?. termiL cuit'permitting ilowV ofcurrent only in oney direc'- tion.Y

' 8. In a directional signal system for motor vehicles, the combinationof -right and left signal lamps for both the front and rear,`a pairV ofpilot lamps, a flasherunit, a'source ofelectric current, circuits forconnectingeach pair of the right and -left signal lamps in parallel,means' for connectingsaid ilasher with either of said parallel circuits,ther coil of said flasher controlling a pair of contactsand operative toclose said contacts when both of a pair of front and rear lights areoperating, a circuit vleading froxn'said pair of contacts 'on one sidewith the' circuit of the righthand signal lamps and the other of the'pilot lamps being connected on one side with`the lefthand signal 'lampsand means the circuit'of-each of the 'pilot lamps leading to the signallamp circuit p permitting-flow'of 'current only'in one direction.V

'a directional `system for motorvehi'cles, the combination Vof rightAand left signal lamps `rfor botli'the front and rear,` a pair of pilotlamps,

a solenoid controlling a pair of contacts, a source of electric current,circuits "for connecting each pair of the right and left signal lamps inparallel, means for connecting said solenoid with either of said'parallel circuits, a ycircuit leading from said pair of contacts to Athepilot lamps, one of said pilot lamps being connected on one side withswitch, electricalloads connected toopposite terminals ofsaidswitclnacontroldevice connected ,between said source andthemovableelement of said. switch, circuits yconnected to opposite ter- Vminals`otsaid switch',T a connection .between said circuits and said source,said "connection, including contacts controlledgby. said control deviceandVmaintained open thereby ultld'erjcertainA conditions, means in eachcircuit for permittinghcurrent flow therethrough inone direction Aonlyand an indicating device in each of said circuits.

